Hebert Smith Freehills enhances financial services

Hebert Smith Freehills enhances financial services

Firm to work more closely with superannuation funds now that their influence is growing with Maged Girgis and Andrew Bradley's arrival

As of Australia's most prestigious Aussie outfit, Minter Ellison, two financial service partners was hired by Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney.

Maged Girgis and Andrew Bradley bring more than 50 years of experience in financial services to their new firm to support HSF's financial services clients. They are also expected to work closely with the existing team including Michael Vrisakis, an expert in superannuation and Ruth Stringer, a consultant in tax.

Carolyn Pugsley, the managing partner for corporate at HSF, noted that the company was seeking the right partners to help it pursue the range of opportunities available in the financial services space, including partnering closer with superannuation funds as their influence in Australian and global markets grows.

After eight years at Ashurst, where he made partners, Girgis joined Minter in 2006. Earlier in his career, he worked for Clayton Utz and the Australian firm Freehills, which merged into Herbert Smith in the UK. Chambers ranks him as a Band 1 superannuation lawyer in Australia. He advises clients and companies across the financial services industry on a range of related topics, including governance, regulatory compliance, financial planning, superannuation and disputes.

After a decade as a compliance manager and company secretary at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bradley became a special counsel for Minter in 2006. Having become a partner at Minter in 2019, he, being an expert in financial services regulation, represents a wide range of clients including superannuation trustees, life insurers, wrap platform operators, investment managers, administrators and custodians.

Girgis is regarded as "one of the foremost financial services legal minds in the country," according to Pugsley, adding that he is "particularly highly regarded as a leading strategic adviser in the industry fund arena and will provide his industry fund clients with significant insight.

"Andrew is a next-generation superannuation attorney who combines technical proficiency with commercial sense — both characteristics our clients require from their financial services advisors," she said.

A senior disputes partner duo from Hogan Lovells has been brought on board HSF's Sydney office, which has more than 70 partners. The move comes just a few months after it bolstered its financial services offering with the addition of Hogan Lovells' disputes partners. Hogan Lovells bolstered its financial services litigation team in New York with the addition of Marc Gottridge and Lisa Fried, becoming the firm's newest members. Nearly 50 lawyers now work for HSF's US office in the Big Apple.